APA Hotel Suzuka Chuou

I liked having the complimentary tea, coffee, water, and isotonic drink in the lobby, along with a big TV to watch while having them. The reception staff can also lend you a red bike from behind the hotel for free. There isn’t a lot to see around town, though. The lobby has brochures for nearby attractions, mostly in neighboring cities aside from Suzuka International Circuit. Breakfast is mainly Japanese, with rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and side dishes. They also serve bread, sausages, and scrambled eggs, though there’s no omelette station or fruit. My room was clean but a bit small for my taste, which seems typical for a Japanese hotel. It had one large single bed that was very comfortable after a long day of work. The compact bathroom came with Shiseido soap, shampoo, conditioner, basic necessities, and a hair dryer.

APA has taken over what used to be another hotel and renovated the interiors of all the rooms. There’s a shared bath on the first floor for men only, with space for about five people at a time. Each room still has its own shower, too.

You can get to the shopping district in a few minutes on foot, and there’s a convenience store right behind the hotel parking lot. Suzuka Circuit is about a 15-minute drive away. The building looks old from outside, but the rooms seem to have been renovated. Great location.

I’ve stayed here a few times for business. This time I noticed the rooms had been renovated and now have big-screen TVs. The pillow felt too thin to me, though. Otherwise, it’s what you’d expect from a Japanese business hotel.